Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-08-26

where rains have begun early enough to
produce them. One way to economic
feed is to dispose of all marketable stock
as quickly as they can be gotten into con-
| dition. At present prices Of corn and
hogs, it Will pay far better TO buy corn to
fatten up old hogs than to feed out the
new crop and then have to buy grain to
finish out other stock next winter and
spring, when the price of corn will surely
be higher. 1t will also pay to buy hay
soon, rather than to wait until winter
prices have been established. In many
places farmers are doing the wise thing
IN going to more favored sections ana
buying and pressing bay to ship TO their
farms. By clubbing together, this can
often be done with profit. The point
with many is no. going to be what they
can keep. Farmers who pay cash rent
are IN the worst straights, unless they
happen to have hogs or other produce
ready for the market, the price of which
is up"
In dry sections, with one-half or less of
usual hay crop TO start into the winter,
the corn crop must be depended upon for
great part of the rough fodder, as well
as for grain. at is an i'll wind that
blows nobody good" and this drouth will
teach many farmers the real value of good
corn fodder and how to preserve it: and
also how to prevent water in preserving
| and feeding crops. Common field corn
cut, ears and all, in the feed-cutter when
just glazing, and placed in the silo.
makes the very best quality of silage. and
gives the most feed, for cattle at least, of
| any way of preserving the corn. 1t takes
the place of hay and most of the grain.
Nothing much can be added to what was
said in our Ensilage Number until more
experience has been gained, but we
! strongly advise all who have not enough
| hay to build silos and preserve part, at
| least, of their field corn. Il is not abso-
| lutely necessary to cut it into fine bits
| and Homer Cook, Waukegan, H., who
| has tried piiting the stalks and ears whole,
says cutting is of little or no advantage.
| If feed-cutter and power can not be af-
| forded or obtained in time 1t Will pay to
| build an above-grouud wooden silo and
! till it with whole cOrnstalks, not too ripe.
| The cattle will eat the whole of the stalks
| next winter and will thrive on the diet.
| The main precaution in filling is to tramp
| the edges well; the middle will settle
| itself. Let it heat up well, and, as H. B.
! Gurler says make half crop in the silo
! do the work of two-thirds of a full aver
! age crop
Where silos are not practicable, the old
methods of making and saving corn fod-
| der are not to be despised. Where hay Is
scarce or high in price, large quantities
| of good feed can be obtained from corn
fodder. 1t should be cut before entirely
ripe, as the quality deetriOrates rapidly
| during the ripening of the grain. Unus-
| ual care must be taken in this particular
where the drouth continues, as the blades
and husks getdry and woody before there
| Is time to cut it. Rains are liable to come
also on this prematurely- ipened fodder
| and bleach it out, thus making it still
more indigestible. Quality of fodder
| counts more than quantity, after corn
| has passed the roasting ear stage
Ripeness and exposure to rains, dews and
sunshine rapidly change the soluble di-
gestible living tissues OF the blades and
stalks to dead, dry, indigestible woody
fiber. II pays better to make small shocks
with the intention of afterward uniting
two or more of them into large ones
than to wait until the corn is dry enough
to put at once into large shocks, or to
! put it green into large shocks and have
it mould should heavy rains occur.
Doubtless the best methods of feeding
corn fodder is to run it, ears and all
! through the power feed-cutter; but where
| there Is no feed-cutter, the old method of
feeding the stalks with or without ears
can be practiced proftably. Where the
lack of hay has left some of the hay bays
| empty in the barn they should be filled
with corn fodder, as it not only keeps
much better there than in the fields, but
| it is much more convenient for feeding
| Besides cattle or horses are not compelled
to eat great lot of ice and snow which
is usually mixed with shock corn left
| standing in the field, sometimes causing
scours or other Irregularities of digestion
| Hay bays can be made tight by lining
them on the inside with matched lumber
or tarred paper can be mailed or, and will
be much cheaper than boards. By max
ing hay bay tight the corn fodder can be
put in before it is quite dry, and will keep
sweet. Where stored, partially cured in
tight hay bays, it will pay to run it
| through the cutter first. Then it will be
ready to feed.